THE TEST OF TRENTHAM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1914, Page 6

THE TEST OF TRENTHAM

Even the most resolute anti-gamblera may see one pleasant feature in. yesterday's Spring Meeting of the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham. They have proof that the war has not filled all the people with brooding melancholy, and has not checked that healthy spirit — "the joy of living" — which is necessary for the maintenance of national efficiency in these times of stress. Fear, without fair" cause, ever invites defeat ; a fearful man is his own enemy, and defeats himself. In the early excitement of the war some well-meaning people believed that it would be improper — as well as wasteful — to have race meetings' until the Germans were unmistakably on the run back to their Fatherland. In Dunedin the Otago Rugby Union, was vehemently criticised by newspaper correspondents because it had decided to send a team northward. Happily, that sort of protest against a modest outlay on a tour for rjjj^gsentative footballers has died down. 1 "rYe former objectors see the war situation in a different light to-day, and the majority seem to realise that it is not desirable to stop the wheels of play because of the cost. After all, the expenditure on play does not go into the deep sea ; the money goes to the support of workers. Those citizens who grieve that the "machine"

took nearly £4000 from the public yesterday may find some comfort in the thought that the holiday-makers had the money to spend. The totalisator's turnover for the two days amounted to £68,342. an increase of £5468 on the aggregate for last year's Spring Meeting. Though the machine alone netted nearly £7000, and t-he people had additional charges for their sport, the^y know that the individual outlay cannot be fairly described as waste ; the money circulates. The country as a whole can be thankful that the sound advice of Sir George Clifford has been followed ; and the result is a healthy distraction for many after the days of excitement and suspense about the war.